The Strange Case of Cornelia Connolly

Today in 1879 marks the death of Cornelia Connolly, foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Born Cornelia Augusta Peacock to a well-to-do Philadelphia family in 1809, at age 23 she married an newly ordained Episcopalian priest named Pierce Connolly. They had four children. The newlyweds moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where Pierce assumed pastorate of a church. In 1835 Pierce announced from the pulpit of his church that he was converting to Roman Catholicism. Not long thereafter Cornelia decided to join him.

Pierce became such an ardent Catholic that he decided to move the family to Rome, where he made important contacts within the English-speaking Catholic community. Later they moved back to the United States, where Pierce took a job teaching at a Catholic college. Cornelia taught music at a convent school. Once again the restless Pierce moved the family back to Rome, where he proceeded to seek ordination to the priesthood. In 1845, Cornelia agreed to a bill of separation and went into a convent with the children while Pierce was ordained a priest.

At first, Cornelia wasn’t happy with this move, but after a while she decided to start her own community devoted to teaching. She moved back to England, where she founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1846. However, Pierce was back in England too, and he was seeking control over Cornelia. He wasn’t happy being a priest anymore, and he sued for the restoration of his conjugal rights. However, Cornelia wasn’t ready to make yet another change, and she refused to receive him. He cut the children off from her, but he continued the suit. Ultimately the court upheld her position. Pierce went back to the Episcopal Church, becoming famous as an anti-Catholic activist. He published anti-Catholic tracts and attacks on Cornelia. He alienated the children from their mother, and when he died in 1883, he was still unreconciled to the Church.
Cornelia’s community started foundations in America and continental Europe. It also worked in Africa, where it fostered the creation of native communities of sisters. In Pennsylvania they established Rosemont College. In 1992, Mother Cornelia Connolly was declared Venerable.